Sports category, Page 352
Pitt Take 5: Never too early to talk bracketology while Panthers prepare to visit Wake Forest
Pitt reaches the midway point of its ACC schedule Saturday when it ventures into Lawrence Joel Coliseum in Winston-Salem, N.C., to meet Wake Forest. Not that it matters, but Pitt is 0-6 there. Given recent history, it’s difficult to tell which Pitt team will show up: • The Panthers (14-6,...
Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry come up aces, Scheffler back with a 67 and Henley takes Pebble Beach lead
PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. — Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry decorated stunning views Thursday with a hole-in-one for each on different courses. Russell Henley birdied his last two holes for an 8-under 64 and the lead. And there was Scottie Scheffler, looking very much like he was never away. Scheffler, out...
Dick Button, Olympic great and voice of skating, dies at 95
NEW YORK — Dick Button was more than the most accomplished men’s figure skater in history. He was one of his sport’s great innovators and promoters, the man responsible not only for inventing the flying camel spin but describing it to generations of fans. He was an athlete and actor,...
7 players score in double figures as Robert Morris men rout IU Indy
As the seasons progress in men’s basketball, Robert Morris’ desire to make noise in the Horizon League grows stronger. The surging Colonials were deafening Thursday night at UPMC Events Center, doubling up IU Indianapolis, 106-53, for their sixth consecutive victory and 10th in the past 12 games. “We’re getting hot...
Jared Goff nearly perfect to open Pro Bowl Games for NFC
ORLANDO, Fla. — Detroit quarterback Jared Goff delivered a near-perfect performance in “passing the test” and helped the NFC take a 14-7 lead over the AFC during the opening night of the Pro Bowl Games on Thursday. Goff, after getting some help from Green Bay running back Josh Jacobs via...
John Mobley Jr., Bruce Thornton lead Ohio State to 83-64 victory over Penn StateVideo
UNIVERSITY PARK — Freshman John Mobley Jr. had 19 points, Bruce Thornton scored 17 and Ohio State cruised to an 83-64 victory over Penn State at Rec Hall on Thursday night. Mobley hit three 3-pointers and added eight assists and six rebounds for the Buckeyes (13-8, 5-5 Big Ten), who...
Victor Wembanyama is an All-Star, 1 of 6 1st-time selectionsVideo
NBA coaches are, obviously, convinced: Victor Wembanyama is one of the league’s best players. The San Antonio star and 2023-24 rookie of the year is an All-Star for the first time, one of the 14 players announced Thursday night as members of the reserve pool for the Feb. 16 event...
Bills coach Sean McDermott upbeat despite falling short of Super Bowl berth yet againVideo
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Difficult as it was for Sean McDermott to wrap up yet another Bills season ending short of a Super Bowl berth, there was nothing Thursday dissuading Buffalo’s coach from believing more opportunities lay ahead. Having an elite quarterback in Josh Allen helps. So does knowing the...
Here’s what Jeff Capel believes is necessary for Pitt to become a ‘really good’ team
Pitt won 22 games in 2023-2024, and perhaps to an outsider that seems like a nice season. In another world, at another time, maybe. It’s almost three times the victory total in former Pitt coach Kevin Stallings’ last season (2017-18), and more than the total Jeff Capel’s teams collected during...
Eagles are new America’s Team in Super Bowl vs. Chiefs
Move over, Dallas Cowboys. There’s a new and unlikely America’s Team in the NFL — at least for the Super Bowl. The Philadelphia Eagles have become the popular choice among many football fans who want to see the Kansas City Chiefs lose for various reasons. Despite a fan base known...
NFL had fewest concussions since league began tracking 9 years ago
NFL players suffered the fewest concussions in a season in 2024 since the league began tracking data nine years ago. The total decline from 2023 was 17%, including all practices and games in the preseason and regular season. League executive Jeff Miller and NFL chief medical officer Dr. Allen Sills...
NASCAR champ Joey Logano tunes out critics, insists playoff format is ‘very entertaining’
Joey Logano has found a way to tune out months of negativity. Critics? Naysayers? Anyone who thinks his third Cup Series championship was a fluke? “I can’t hear it because my trophies, they kind of, like, echo around me,” Logano quipped during a Zoom call with media Wednesday. Logano won...
Utah Hockey Club narrows the choice of a name to 3 finalists. It won’t be the Yeti or WasatchVideo
SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Hockey Club has chosen three finalists for the permanent team name it will adopt beginning with the 2025-26 NHL season. The franchise will use a final round of fan voting to decide among the Utah Mammoth, Utah Hockey Club and, now, Utah Outlaws. The...
Max Scherzer agrees to a $15.5 million, 1-year contract with the Toronto Blue Jays, AP source saysVideo
Max Scherzer is joining the Toronto Blue Jays, agreeing to a $15.5 million, one-year contract Thursday, according to a person with direct knowledge of the deal. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the agreement had not been announced and was pending a physical. The 40-year-old...
Unusual betting patterns surrounding play of Terry Rozier in 2023 game with Charlotte investigatedVideo
MIAMI — Unusual betting patterns surrounding the play of then-Charlotte Hornets guard Terry Rozier in a game nearly two years ago are now under investigation by federal prosecutors, part of the same probe that led to the lifetime ban of Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter, the NBA confirmed Thursday. The...
Heat icon Dwyane Wade reveals cancer diagnosis, with kidney surgery over a year ago
MIAMI — Having kept the matter private including during his interview sessions when a statue of his likeness was unveiled on the steps of the Kaseya Center in October, Miami Heat icon Dwyane Wade revealed on his podcast this week that he had a cancerous tumor removed from his kidney...
ESPN extends media rights agreement with ACC through 2035-36Video
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — ESPN has exercised its option extending its media rights agreement with the ACC through the 2035-36 academic year. The network and the ACC announced the extension Thursday. The deal continues a rights deal that has spanned 35 years and the launch of the ACC Network in August...
Ravens kicker Justin Tucker denies ‘inappropriate behavior’ at high-end spas
BALTIMORE — Ravens kicker Justin Tucker acted inappropriately with massage therapists at four luxury spas and wellness centers around the Baltimore area, according to six therapists who spoke anonymously with The Baltimore Banner, allegations Tucker denied vehemently. Managers from two of the spas said Tucker was banned from their establishments,...
Steelers positional analysis: Led by Chris Boswell, specialists provide stability heading into 2025
This is the 11th and final part in a series examining the Pittsburgh Steelers roster, position by position, heading into the offseason. Today: Specialists If you could put a wager on which Pittsburgh Steelers position group would return intact for training camp, the safest bet would be on the specialists....
Penguins forward Sidney Crosby named Canada’s captain in 4 Nations Face-Off
As expected, Pittsburgh Penguins forward Sidney Crosby was named captain of Canada’s entry into the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off event. Crosby is the NHL’s longest-tenured active captain, having served in that role for the Penguins since 2007. He has also served as Canada’s captain in various international tournaments. This season,...
Ex-Steelers kicker Shaun Suisham embraces his journey in the world of girls hockey
Like plenty of professional athletes, former Pittsburgh Steelers kicker Shaun Suisham had to get a real-life job when his playing days were over. And, sure enough, he has a tiny office he shares with a co-worker, complete with drab cinderblock walls and plenty of spreadsheets to sort through. But his...
Penn State returns to ‘basketball facility’ Rec Hall in hopes of curing late-game woes
STATE COLLEGE — The Bryce Jordan Center won’t ever be heralded as one of the cathedrals of college basketball, even if it housed Penn State hoops for the next 100 years. The venue is largely considered best suited for concerts or other events like the university’s annual THON fundraiser for...
Jaromir Jagr selling majority stake in his hometown Czech ice hockey team
KLADNO, Czech Republic — Ice hockey great Jaromir Jagr is selling a majority stake in his hometown team the Kladno Knights in the Czech league. Jagr said on Thursday he’s selling an 80% stake to businessman Tomas Drastil while holding on to the remaining minority stake. Financial details were not...
Tim Benz: Sidney Crosby’s heroics prevent another Penguins plunge to rock bottom — for now
Sorry, Penguins. This day was always going to come. Eventually, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ season was going to have to end, and we were going to have to realize exactly how badly your season was going. Thanks for making it as glaringly obvious as possible at just the right time for...
U mad, bro?: Angry Steelers fans filling up more than just Art Rooney II’s inbox
During a press gathering on Monday, Pittsburgh Steelers owner Art Rooney II responded to a question about hearing from angry fans by saying, “My inbox has been pretty full.” Mine too, Art. Mine too. Let’s compare notes in this week’s “U mad, bro?” This reader, @Fansville412, shared some thoughts about...
